JOHOR BARU: The Sultan of Johor expressed hope that the people of Johor will not forget him or pretend not to know him once he resides in Istana Negara during his tenure as the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
"Even though I reside at Istana Negara, it does not mean that I am permanently moving to Kuala Lumpur.
"I will always come back to Johor because this is my hometown.
"I hope the people of Johor will not forget me and pretend not to know me after this," Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar said in his royal address in conjunction with the investiture ceremony to mark his 65th birthday at the Istana Besar, here, today.
His Majesty was elected as 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, for a five-year term, effective Jan 31, 2024, at the 263rd Rulers' Conference on Oct 17.
Sultan Ibrahim also said that during his tenure as Agong, Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim will take over the reign of the state.
The crown prince will be appointed as the Regent of Johor.
"The state government must guide Tunku Ismail, as soon as he assumes the role of the regent of Johor…just as I was guided as the regent when my late father (Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail) became the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1984.
"The Regent will bear the responsibility to protect the state and people, and exercise all the rights and powers of state governance, except as the head of the Islamic religion," his majesty said.